Container for bulk shipment of lading in less than carload lots



March 31, N s REEDER E AL 2,035,838

CONTAINER FOR BULK SHIPMENT OF LADING IN LESS THAN CARLOAD LOTS Filed March 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I1 36 17.1111 "1' Tf T INVENT R 5 a; ga wgzw ATT NEY N. s. REEDER ET AL ,035,838 NT OF LADING IN LESS THAN CARLOAD LOTS March 31, 1936.

CONTAINER FOR BULK SHIPME Filed Maroh29, 1932 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIE]- 6 FIg-l/ F15. IX

March 1935- N. s. REEDER ET AL ,0

CONTAINER FOR BULK S HIPMENT OF LADING IN LESS THAN CARLOADLOTS Filed March 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER FOR BULK SHIPMENT OF LAD- ING IN LESS THAN OARLOAD LOTS tion of New Jersey Application March 29,

10 Claims.

The container is primarily designed for bulk shipments of cement or other finely divided lading which it is desired to protect from the weather, and can be unloaded by tilting the container to discharge the lading. In many instances the contents of the containers are discharged into bins which are placed a considerable height above the ground and the controlling of the container and the discharge of the contents is efiected by an operator on the ground.

Other uses for such containers or modifications thereof will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that the specification is intended to cover all such 'modifications of the invention coming within the scope of our appended claims.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container for handling shipments in bulk of less than carload lots of lading and to protect such lading en route between the consignor and consignee.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which may be unloaded by inverting the container and discharging the lading by gravity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door and door securing means for such containers which will be weather-proof, positive in action and safe from unintended opening, and which, if desired, may be operated at a distance from said container as when discharging into an elevated bin or other receptacle.

Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 shows in elevation a container embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows in elevation another view of the container of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a section taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows in elevation a transverse section of a portion of the container taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the doors and locking mechanism therefor; Fig. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are details of the door bearings for the locking means; Figs. 11 and 12 show in detail the hinge butts; Fig. 13 shows in elevation the locking mechanism taken along the lines l3-|3 of Fig. 6; Fig. 14 shows in elevation a locomotive crane lifting one of the containers from a railroad car which has been used to transport the container; Fig. 15 shows in elevation the container in unloading position above an elevated bin and in dot-and-dash lines shows the position of the doors when opened to discharge the lading; Fig. 16 shows in elevation a portion of the crane ;and the container suspended therefrom in the act 1932, Serial No. 601,750

of being tilted; Fig. 17 shows in elevation a portion of the crane from which the container is suspended, showing in dot-and-dash lines the container in discharging position and in full lines the container being returned to normal position; Fig. 18 shows in elevation the bail and Fig. 19 is an end elevation of same.

Referring now in detail to the drawings where like reference characters refer to like parts, reference character I indicates a container, which is preferably formed with cylindrical side walls, closed at the lower edges thereof and open at the top. On diametrically opposite sides of the container and preferably above the center of gravity of the container are mounted trunnions 2 for handling the container and about which the container can be tilted to discharge the lading as will be later set forth. Mounted within the trunnions and extending transversely of the container is a member 3 which reinforces the trunnions and container, and resists distortion of the container during handling when loaded with lad- The open top portion of the container is closed by doors which in the preferred form are mounted adjacent the transverse center line of the container and which open outwardly away from the side walls. As shown in Fig. l of the drawings the sides of the container, at the top, are preferably bifurcated and the oppositely disposed bifurcations are joined by transverse connecting walls 4 and 5. These bifurcations and walls 4 and 5 provide a V-shaped recess into which the hinge butts 6 for the door hinges are mounted. This construction also performs other desirable functions which will be later described. Mounted on the hinge butts 6 by means of straps l are the doors 8 and 9. The edges of the doors conform to the contour of the sides of the container, overlapping the same, and the adjacent portions of the doors fit over their respective transverse walls 4 and 5. With the doors formed in this manner the seal between the doors and container sides can be made weatherproof by mounting weather stripping 31 along the edge of the container and against which the doors fit when in closed position. As the doors remain closed until after the inverting of the container these doors have been reinforced by embossments l6 placed in the top thereof and by a member such as H secured on the underside of the door adjacent the curved edge thereof.

One of the doors 8 is provided with a chain 38 which is secured to the door by means of a bracket 39 and to the adjacent Wall of the container by the bracket 40. This chain 38 is of such length as to limit the opening of the door beyond a position for effective discharge of the lading and preferably to a position substantially parallel with the vertical plane of the container. This assists the door 8 to return, by gravity, to a closed position when the container is returned to a normal position after discharge of the lading.

The weather-stripping is preferably of the type which can be compressed as the doors come into contact therewith and as will later be shown, the locking means clamps the doors tightly upon the container and Weatherstripping thus assisting in sealing the contents against the weather as well as preventing leaking of the lading when the container is inverted. To reinforce the top of the container and provide additional bearing for the doors the members 46 may be added as shown in Fig. 6.

A locking mechanism is provided for these doors and comprises a flexible member I2 which is secured to one side of the container by means of a bracket I3 and extends upwardly along the side of the container, transversely of the doors and down the opposite side of the container to engage with a latch member I4 pivotally mounted thereon. The latch member I4 comprises a U- shaped portion having arms I5, the free ends of which arms are pivotally mounted on the container by means of a bearing I 6 and to the closed portion of the arms a handle I? is fitted. Disposed between the arms I5 and connecting them is a member I8 having a bifurcation therein for a portion of its depth; flanges depend from the outer edges of the bifurcated portion and it is within the bifurcation and between these flanges that the free end of the member I2 is engaged. The end of the member I2 is enlarged, as at I9, so as to be retained within the bifurcated portion of I 8. The handle I I of the member I4 and a bracket 50 on the container have coinciding openings 2| therein through which a pin, padlock or other means, can be inserted to secure the member I4 against tampering, while the container is in transit.

Since the member I2 is preferably formed of a section of wire rope and the effective length thereof must necessarily be maintained in order that the latch member Id can function properly, the doors 8 and 9 are provided with bearings 23 into which the wire rope or equivalent member fits. These bearings perform the functions of insuring proper placing of the member I2, preventing slipping, and in the case of a wire rope being used, provide a bearing for the rope which will prevent distortion of the rope or cutting from being bent over sharp corners. These bearings 23 as shown in Figs. 7 to 10 comprise a portion 24 for securing the bearings to the door and a ,saddle portion 25 to receive the member I2. The

portion 25 having flanges 26 which are flared outwardly to guide the member I2 into place. The base 2'! of the saddle portion is curved to prevent cutting of the member I2 when bending downward and conforms to the shape of the member I2 so as to prevent distortion thereof when wire rope is used.

In order to provide for adjustment in the length of the member I2 so as to compensate for wear in any of the parts the fixed end of the member is secured to the container by means of a bolt 23 to which nuts 29 are fitted and the bolt 28 is threaded for a portion of its length. Whenever during the use of the container it is desired to change the effective length of the member I2 the upper nut 29 is loosened and the lower nut is turned until the desired adjustment has been effected after which the upper nut 29 is turned into place. This locks the bolt 28 against turning and maintains the adjustment.

The operation of this locking means is as follows: when the doors are in closed position the member I2 is moved over them into the bearings 23 and down the side of the container to the member I4 which has been rotated in a direction towards the doors so that the end I9 of the member I2 may be moved into the bifurcation of the member I8. The member I4 is then rotated in a direction away from the doors and towards the container. It will be noted that when the member I4 is in looking position the end portion I9 of the member I2 has moved past the dead center of the bearing I6 to which the member I4 is mounted so as to prevent accidental rotation of the member Id. In unlocking the doors to permit discharge of the lading the reverse action takes place. Here it is only necessary to pull the handle I1 away from the container and when rotated past center of its bearing I6 the weightof lading upon the doors pulls upon the member I2 causing the end I9 to move out of the member I8 and the doors open. To prevent the end- I9 of the member I2 from wedging in the member I8 the contacting surfaces of the members I8 and I9 are preferably made a portion of a sphere.

In order to facilitate handling of the container a ball is provided. This bail has arms. 30 and a connecting portion 3| on which a means is fastened to be engaged by the crane or carrier hook. The free ends of the arms 33 have suitably formed portions 32 for engaging with the trunnions 2 of the container and the free ends of the portions 32 are deflected towards the arms 36 as at 33 to prevent separation of the bail and trunnions when the container is inverted.

For the inverting of the container when suspended by means of its trunnions 2, a dumping bar has been mounted beneath the container which is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the draw ings. As these containers are preferably shipped in an upright position it is desirable to avoid having any obstructions on the base of the container and for that reason the dumping bar 3 I is mounted within a depression 35 in the bottom of the container. The dumping bar is preferably secured adjacent one edge of the container and projects beyond the container on the diametrically opposite side thereof so as to bereadily accessible. In the preferred form as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end of the dumping bar secured to the underside of the container has been, bifurcated and the free ends of the arms engage the container on opposite sides of the center line, which has been found to assist in preventing. the container from twisting when being raised to dumping position. Mounted on the sides of the container and adjacent the base. thereof are bracket members 36 which act as stops to engage with the bail used in lifting the container, and prevent the container from rotating beyond a position to discharge the lading.

In the drawings the dumping bar 34 has been shown as permanently mounted beneath the container but it is to be understood that this bar 34 freedom from slipping and displacement during handling and unloading. of the lading.

The method of using the containers is as follows: The containers are filled with cement or other lading and the doors 8 and 9 are locked into a weather-tight position as previously described. The containers are then loaded onto a railroad car such as 41 or any other suitable vehicle and delivered to the consignee. Upon arrival the containers may then be lifted by means of a crane 42 as shown in Fig. 14 of the drawings. Here the bail 3B is attached to the crane and to the trunnions of a container, the line 44 from the crane is attached to the dumping bar 34 and a line 45 is secured to the latch M by means of a suitable opening provided in the handle ll of the latch. The crane 42 after raising the container free of the car 4! moves over to the elevated bin 43. These bins frequently are placed as high as 30 feet above the ground and in moving the container to a position above the bin it is desirable that the operator of the crane does not need to control the doors of the container or use care in preventing the container from over-turning. It will be observed from the drawings and from the previous description that the doors of the herein described container, when locked, are independent in operation of the movement of the container and the position of the trunnions prevents accidental tilting of the container.

Upon reaching a position above the bin 43 or at any other convenient time the container is inverted by means of the line 44 and dumping bar 34. After the container is in position over the bin 43 the operator on the ground or the crane operator pulls upon the rope 45 which operates the latch I4 to release the door locking member l2 and the lading is discharged by gravity into the bin.

As previously referred to, the bifurcations in the side of the container and the walls 4 and form a V-shaped transverse member at the top of the container. This member assists in preventing bridging of the lading within the container and aids in the discharge of the lading.

Since the trunnions 2 of the container are above the center of gravity of the container when in normal position, the container is easily righted upon movement of the crane or container. It will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings that as the container is righted the door 9 will automatically close and as shown by Fig. 17 the door 8 is held by the chain 38 in a position which causes the door to swing downwardly as the container completes the righting movement. Another advantage of the chain 38 is, the door 8 is prevented thereby from folding down upon the door 9 and thus preventing the container from righting easily or requiring manual operation of the door into a closed position.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a container, means thereon for suspending and inverting same, a cover for said container comprising a plurality of sections hinged thereto so as to open away from the sides of said container and means overlying said sections for holding said cover in closed position.

2. In combination, a container, trunnions at the sides thereof for inverting same, and a reinforcing member secured within said trunnions and extending transversely of said container.

3. In a container for shipment of less than carload lots of lading, an opening in said container, a door for said opening, a locking means for said door, comprising a member secured to one side of said container and extending across said door, a member pivotally mounted on the opposite side of said container, means on said pivotally mounted member engaging said first named member and moving to a position past dead center of said pivotal mounting when in locking position.

4. In a container for bulk shipment of granular lading, in combination, closed sides and bottom walls and a cover hinged to form a top wall, trunnions on said sides for suspending the container from a carrier and for inverting the container to discharge the lading, and a means for locking the cover in position, said means comprising a member fastened to a side wall disposed transversely of the top wall and releasably secured to the opposite side wall.

5. In combination, a container having closed side and bottom walls, an opening in the top wall, a hinged cover for closing the opening, and locking means comprising a tension member overlying the cover and a readily releasable rotatable member holding the tension member in position, said means being operable from a position remote from the container when the container is suspended in an inverted position.

6. In a container of the class described, a hollow body portion, oppositely disposed trunnions on the body portion for handling the container, a wall for one end of the container having a portion thereof projecting inwardly of the container, a dumping bar secured to the outer face of the inwardly projecting portion of the wall, an indenture in one of the sides of the body portion below the said portion of the wall and a free end of the dumping bar extending through said indenture.

7. In a container of the class described adapted to be tilted to discharge the lading, the combination with an open top body portion of a hinge support extending across the face of the said top and below the sides of the opening, a closure member at each side of the hinge support overlying the said support and edges of the container, rigidifying corrugations in each closure member, hinge butts mounted on said hinge support and straps connecting the hinge butts to said closure members, guide members secured to the closure member remote from the hinges, and latch means engaging the guides to hold the closure members in closed position during inverting of the con tainer.

8. In a container of the class described, a body portion having a closed end and an open end, a hinged closure for the open end comprising a hinge support of general V shape disposed between the walls of the body and secured thereto, hinge butts secured between the walls of the V, door segments at each side of the V and overlapping a wall of the V and the container walls, hinge straps secured to the said butts and door segments, and a flexible member secured to the inner face of the container wall and to one of said door segments to limit the opening movement of said segment.

9. In a container of the class described, a body portion having a closed end and an open end, 'a hinged closure for the open end comprising a hinge support of general V shape disposed between the walls of the body and secured thereto, hinge butts secured between the walls of the V, door segments at each side of the V and overlapping a wall of the V and the container walls, hinge straps secured to the said butts and door segments, a flexible member secured to the inner face of the container wall and to one of said door segments to limit the opening movement of said segment, and a closure means retaining the segments in closed position during tilting.

10. In a container of the class described and adapted to be tilted to discharge lading, the combination with a pair of closure members hinged adjacent the center of one end of the container and opening away from the sides thereof, of a flexible member connected to one side of the container disposed across the closure members and down the other side of the container, a member pivoted at one end in spaced relation to the side of the container, an enlarged end on the flexible member, and a slot in the pivoted member for engagement with said enlarged end, said flexible member and pivoted member being so disposed that when connected and the pivoted member is moved away from the hinged closure members and parallel to the container, the end of the flexible member is between the wall of the container and the plane of mounting of the pivoted member.

NATHANIEL S. REEDER.

JOHN G. MORRISSEY. 

